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Underground Tours
26/01/2012
On Thursday 3rd May 2012 and Thursday 1st November 2012 there will be no underground tours after 1.00pm due to planned maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause....
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Underground Tours
20/01/2012
On Saturday 28th January there will be no underground tours until after 1.00pm due to planned maintenance. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
...
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Underground Tours
09/01/2012
The 'Underground Tours' at The National Coal Mining Museum will not take place on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th February due to maintenance works. We are sorry for any inconvenience....
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Landscape of the Senses
22/12/2011
Special Exhibition: Landscape of the Senses – Janet Buckle & Isabel Dodson
10 October 2011 – 22 January 2012
The exciting exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum brings together work by the artists Janet Buckle and Isabel Dodson. Both these artists use strong, vibrant colours to bring coal-mining landscapes to life.
Although different in style and approach there are many similarities...
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Visit Santa Underground
06/12/2011
Over Christmas, get kitted out with your helmet and lamp and travel 140m under the earth to see Santa in his grotto!
Santa’s elves have been busy sprinkling some special star-dust on his underground grotto this year, making it all the more magical. Santa will be arriving at the museum Saturday 26th of November 10am – 3.30pm. £8 for children (includes gift); £6 for adults – Get kitted out with y...
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The National Coal Mining Train
05/12/2011
Unfortunately the Museum is unable to run the train during the winter months. The train will be back in service on the ‘See How they Run’ event on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 March 2012. We apologise for any inconvenience....
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Eric launches Christmas appeal
10/11/2011
Eric, one of the Museum’s ponies has been to visit to the Wakefield Tourist Information Centre (TIC) to help spread the word about our ‘Adopt a Pony’ scheme, which costs just £12.50 per year and is a perfect Christmas present.
The staff at the TIC have adopted Eric, so he went along to say thank you – and was joined by Father Christmas too!
It’s really easy to adopt one of the Museum’s pon...
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Joint exhibition brings fresh and colourful new perspective to the history of mining
10/10/2011
The National Coal Mining Museum of England’s special exhibition for autumn 2011 is ‘Landscape of the Senses’, which opens on 10 October 2011 and runs through until 22 January 2012.
This joint exhibition between two artists, Janet Buckle and Isabel Dodson, brings a fresh and colourful new perspective on the history of mining.
Both artists take inspiration from their surrounding industrial lan...
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Heritage Days at The Museum.
10/09/2011
This highy anticipated and exciting event will be open to all visitors at the museum on both Saturday and Sunday (10th & 11th).
This is your chance to discover unexpored areas that are not normally open to the public.
Don't miss it!...
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Remember A Charity Week at the National Coal Mining Museum
09/09/2011
Remember A Charity Week at the National Coal Mining Museum: visitors are asked to consider leaving a legacy
National Coal Mining Museum for England (NCMME) is asking visitors to consider leaving a gift to the Museum in their Will as part of Remember A Charity Week, 12 - 18 September.
Remember A Charity Week is an annual awareness week designed to promote legacies and encourage more people t...
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New Underground Tour
14/06/2011
During 2011 we are working on a major project, called Making Sense of Mining, to improve and extend our underground tour and create some exciting new interactive and sensory displays.
The new guided tours will be launched in May 2012.
Whilst this work is being carried out, there will be times when the existing tour may need to be shortened or the route changed.
Your Tour Guide will exp...
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May Half Term Family Activities
24/05/2011
Keeping Special Things Safe
30 May – 3 June
1pm – 4pm
Would you like to know what lies behind closed doors at the National Coal Mining Museum?
Take a trip to the New Exhibition: The Great Store Explore and discover some of the 30,000 stored treasures and hidden gems. Come behind the scenes and explore the Museum’s stores on the special guided tours and take part in family activities dur...
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Pictures, Poems, Performances and Puppets ...
16/03/2011
There’s a whole host of exciting events and exhibitions taking place at the Museum over the coming weeks ...
The Drift: an exhibition of photography by Ian Beesley and poetry by Ian McMillan.
The Drift features a series of powerful images by social documentary photographer Ian Beesley, interwoven with evocative poetry by writer, broadcaster and performer Ian McMillan.
Based around Hay Royds...
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A Great Gift Idea!
08/12/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum has a new booklet on show. Memories of the Coal Queens is available to buy from the Museum shop, for only £4.95.
Coal queen competitions developed from small, local colliery-level contests to large-scale national events, which ran between 1969-1983. There is little written about these contests, which added a touch of glamour to the coal industry and provided fant...
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A rare mining artefact goes on display at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
06/12/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England near Wakefield has recently acquired a first edition of Georgius Agricola’s volume De Re Metallica, the definitive early treatise on mining methods, engineering, chemistry and geology. The volume, published in 1556, contains woodcuts that have been used by virtually every later historian to explain mining life and technology. It was published in Latin, b...
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Museum is Open
03/12/2010
Museum has re-opened to visitors....
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Museum closed due to severe weather conditions
01/12/2010
Please note due to severe weather conditions the Museum is closed today (Wednesday 1 December 2010). We will be reviewing the situation early tomorrow morning. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you...
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West Yorkshire receives a prestigious visit from the Coal Museum of China
01/11/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England has just hosted a visit by a delegation of four members of staff from the Coal Museum of China. In October 2009 the Museum Director, Dr Margaret Faull, visited the Coal Museum of China, located in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province. While there she signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Coal Museum, which has an outstanding geological collect...
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A mine of music and art at Museum this winter
29/10/2010
There’s a coal lot more going on this winter at the National Coal Mining Museum for England as it welcomes folk singer Will Kaufman for an exclusive live performance.
This November will see a special show by the artist, who is also a university professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of Central Lancashire.
The multi-talented musician will be playing emotive ballads and...
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The effects of the Comprehensive Spending Review on the National Coal Mining Museum for England.
21/10/2010
Baroness Morris of Yardley (formerly Secretary of State for Education), the Chair of the National Coal Mining Museum for England, has been informed by the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, of the cut that will be made to the Museum’s grant over the next four years.
The public announcement came from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne M...
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New Special Exhibition ‘The Pits and the Pendulums – Coal Miners versus free markets’ opens.
11/10/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England’s next special exhibition is based on the art work of Andrew Turner. The exhibition, entitled ‘The Pits and the Pendulums - coal miners versus free markets’, will feature paintings, drawings, prints and banner art. The exhibition opens on Tuesday 12 October and will run until 23 January 2011.
This exhibition shows the powerful, politically inspired ...
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Get Creative at an award-winning venue!
27/09/2010
Come along to the National Coal Mining Museum for England on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 October for the Big Draw event, which is part of a national campaign to get Britain drawing.
Over the weekend there will be FREE art workshops available to everyone who has an interest in art. Artist Annette Cobley will be on hand to offer advice to artists of all ages and abilities. Visitors will have an amaz...
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Step into the unknown world of Clairvoyance
24/09/2010
National Coal Mining Museum for England is holding a clairvoyance evening on Wednesday 6 October 2010. An Evening of Clairvoyance will be brought to you by international medium, Raymond Faulkes.
Raymond Faulkes is based in Doncaster. He has worked as a professional medium for many years across the UK and overseas. His work covers spirituality, spirit contact and also life in general. Raymond p...
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Will You Help The Work Of The National Coal Mining Museum Live On After You Are Gone?
14/09/2010
Local charity the National Coal Mining Museum for England today marks its part in the UK’s largest cross-charity campaign, Remember A Charity Week, 13 – 19 September 2010, by organising an underground tug-of-war for its miner guides, dressing the pit’s ponies in yellow sashes and giving away branded teabags to its visitors to raise awareness of the Week.
The week sees over 140 charities from ar...
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Explore behind the Screens!
01/09/2010
As part of the Heritage Open Days, coordinated nationally by English Heritage, the National Coal Mining Museum for England will open new doors to the public from Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 September.
This is a once-a-year opportunity for visitors to discover parts of the Museum, which are usually closed to the public. Guides from the Museum’s curatorial team will lead tours throughout the day and wi...
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The National Coal Mining Museum for England’s Latest Arrival
09/08/2010
For every week of the summer holidays the National Coal Mining Museum for England has had plenty to keep the kids busy, with lots to do whatever the weather.
From Monday 16 until Friday 20 August, children can come and find out pit- pony facts, and make and decorate their very own pit-pony sock puppet. This activity is available every day from 1.00pm until 4.00pm.
Why not visit the stables ...
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Plenty of free things to do this summer at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
27/07/2010
From Monday 26 July until Friday 3 September, the National Coal Mining Museum for England is the perfect place to keep the children busy, with plenty to do whatever the weather.
During the first week of the summer holidays (26 to 30 July) be inspired by the current special exhibition ‘Memories of the Coal Queens’ and become a fashion designer for the day by creating a T-shirt to take home.
...
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Free Talk and Book Signing Opportunity by Author Alan Gallop
30/06/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be holding a book signing of the new paperback edition of Victorian’s Children of the Dark on Saturday 3 July, a book that Yorkshire people have taken to their hearts. The author, Alan Gallop, will be appearing at the Museum to give a free talk about his research for the book and to sign copies, which will be available to buy in the Museum’s gift sh...
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Miners’ Gala is just around the Corner
07/06/2010
This year’s Miners’ Gala is just around the corner. Everyone at the National Coal Mining Museum for England is busy preparing for the big day. On Sunday 13 June, families from all over Yorkshire will be flocking to the Museum to enjoy a great day out.
On arrival families will be transported back in time to the 1940s, with an array of 1940s-inspired activities, entertainment and attractions. Th...
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National Coal Mining Museum for England wins a prestigious Drawing Inspiration Award
16/05/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is proud to announce that it will receive a prestigious Drawing Inspiration Award for its successful event, ‘A Day in the Life of Caphouse Colliery’, held in association with the Big Draw 2009. Project leaders Imogen Holmes-Roe, Curator of Art & Photography, Alice Holland, Assistant Education Officer and local artist Jake Attree, are set to collect the a...
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West Yorkshire students celebrate their coal mining heritage through a Festival of Dance and Drama
06/05/2010
Come and experience the fusion between the rich history of coal mining and the Arts at the annual ‘Drama Festival Day!’ on Tuesday 11 May at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, in partnership with the University of Leeds and a number of local secondary schools.
The university students have been working with the Education Team at the Museum and with groups of pupils from the Cathedral C...
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Memories of the Coal Queens
26/04/2010
The next special exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum for England is called ‘Memories of the Coal Queens’ and is based on Coal Queen competitions, which were at their height between the early 1960s and mid 1980s. The exhibition opens on Monday 17 May and will run for nineteen weeks.
The competitions started as local colliery contests and a miner’s daughter or wife would be crowned as ...
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Easter Fun continues at the National Coal Mining Museum
12/04/2010
There are still plenty of activities to do at the National Coal Mining Museum during the second week of the Easter holidays (12 – 16 April).
There will be free family art and craft activities based on spring and nature, running every weekday from 6 April until 17 April where you can make and decorate animal masks in the Learning Curve.
Living History Interpreters will be performing all w...
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Easter Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum.
23/03/2010
There is so much going on at the National Coal Mining Museum for England over the Easter break, you won’t know where to start!
The highlight of the Easter Weekend is to help the Easter Bunny and the spring fairies find their eggs with our Easter Egg Trail (running from 2 to 9 April, £2.00 per trail sheet). Children will need to solve riddles and explore the Museum site. Then visit the Easter B...
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David Douglass’s Latest Book Launched at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
12/03/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England hosted the launch of David Douglass’s latest book ‘Ghost Dancers’, on Wednesday 10 March 2010. The launch included the author reading several extracts from the book, and was accompanied by a selection of guest speakers.
David Douglass has been at the sharp end of the conflict between the National Coal Board and the miners since the Miners’ Strike. In ...
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See Coal Mining Machinery in Action!
26/02/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce a special weekend event, ‘See How They Run!’, on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March. The weekend will give visitors the chance to see coal-mining power through the ages, with demonstrations of early horse power, right through to some of the large coal cutters usually kept in storage.
The machinery will be running to celebrate Nat...
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The Narrator’s Gaze, Fifty years of Documentary Photography
26/02/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be hosting a symposium, entitled ‘The Narrator’s Gaze, fifty years of documentary photography’, on Friday 26 March 2010, from 10.30am until 4.30pm. The event is being held in association with the new special exhibition, ‘Northern Soul, John Bulmer’s images of life and Times in the 1960s’.
A pioneer of colour photography during the 1960s, Bulmer’s...
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Mine-water Conference at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
18/02/2010
As the region emerges from the icy grip of one of the coldest winters for thirty years, the National Coal Mining Museum for England is focusing attention on new technology, producing low-carbon, large-scale heating from abandoned mine-water.
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is hosting a conference on 22nd February 2010 to publicise alternative methods of heating, utilising heat- pump...
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Sad news about Colonel the Shire Horse
11/02/2010
It is with great sadness that the National Coal Mining Museum for England has to announce that Colonel the Museum’s Shire horse passed away on Sunday 7 February.
The gentle giant’s life came to a peaceful end as old age finally caught up with him. Whilst the vet made Colonel as comfortable as possible, the Museum’s horsekeepers, Neil Beaumont and Wendy Priest, stayed by his side.
Colonel st...
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Picture This! February Half Term activities
08/02/2010
With so much to do this February half-term, families are spoilt for choice. Visitors will be able to enjoy free art and craft activities and storytelling sessions inspired by the current special exhibition ‘Northern Soul, John Bulmer’s images of life and Times in the 1960s’.
There are free family activities running weekdays, 1.00pm to 4.00pm, in the Learning Curve. ‘Make and Take’ fabulous pict...
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National Yorkshire Pudding Day
25/01/2010
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce that it will be celebrating National Yorkshire Pudding Day on Sunday 7 February with traditional Sunday Roasts with Yorkshire Puddings.
Nowadays Yorkshires are a part of any roast dinner and are as popular as ever. The Yorkshire pudding is so popular that spin off dishes such as toad in the hole have been developed!
Yorkshi...
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CONFERENCE ON HEAT-PUMP TECHNOLOGY USING MINEWATER
18/01/2010
National Coal Mining Museum for England will be hosting a conference on heat-pump technology using minewater on 22 February 2010. Conventional closed-loop heat pump systems have now become commonplace in the repertoire of heating systems available. The use of open-loop heat-pump systems is, however, still in its infancy, although they have the potential to provide heating on a large scale where ap...
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Picture this . . .
18/01/2010
As part of National Storytelling Week, families visiting the National Coal Mining Museum for England are invited to take part in a brand new Storytelling Spectacular on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2010.
Characters from the Special Exhibition, ‘Northern Soul, John Bulmer’s images of life and Times from the 1960s’ will be brought to life through the art of storytelling. In these engaging ...
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Northern Soul John Bulmer’s images of life and Times in the 1960s
06/01/2010
The forthcoming special exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum for England is of work by renowned photojournalist, John Bulmer. The exhibition is entitled ‘Northern Soul - John Bulmer’s images of life and Times in the 1960s’. It will be open from Monday 25 January 2010 and will run for 16 weeks.
A pioneer of colour photography during the 1960s, Bulmer’s work was included in the very fir...
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National Coal Mining Museum for England Director Receives OBE
07/12/2009
The Director of the National Coal Mining Museum for England, Dr Margaret Faull, was invested with her OBE at Buckingham Palace by HRH the Prince of Wales on Friday 27 November 2009. Dr Faull received her OBE for services to the industrial heritage, including her work at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Dr Faull told the Prince about the history of the Museum, visitor numbers at the...
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Santa is on his way to the National Coal Mining Museum for England
20/11/2009
Visit Santa and his reindeer friend’s 140 metres underground as Santa returns to his special underground grotto. Booking is essential for all Santa underground tours.
A unique opportunity to meet Santa awaits families visiting the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Due to popular demand, Santa has returned to Wakefield and will be resident in his underground grotto every Saturday and Sund...
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25 Years On – A photographic display by Andy Boag
20/11/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum is proud to announce the launch of a special photographic display by photographer, Andy Boag, entitled ‘25 Years On’, on Sunday 22 November. This FREE display marks the 25th anniversary of the miners’ strike and will be located in the entrance to the underground tour.
The photographs are the result of a project that Andy Boag began while he was studying at the U...
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Learn the art of Dry-Stone Walling at the National Coal Mining Museum.
19/10/2009
With so much to do this October half term, families will be spoilt for choice. Visitors will be able to enjoy free art and craft activities, living history performances and the popular Pocket Panto at the National Coal Mining Museum for England from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October.
Free art and craft workshops will be running every afternoon from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, with workshops a...
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Things to do this October Half Term at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
16/10/2009
With so much to do this October half term, families will be spoilt for choice. Visitors will be able to enjoy free art and craft activities, living history performances and the popular Pocket Panto at the National Coal Mining Museum for England from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October.
Free art and craft workshops will be running every afternoon from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, with workshops a...
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It’s behind you!!!
12/10/2009
As the panto season is nearly upon us, the National Coal Mining Museum for England presents the very popular Pocket Panto, who are back with their unique version of Dick Whittington on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October.
Performances will take place in the Museum’s Caphouse Suite at 12.30pm and 2.30pm, providing the perfect way to start October half-term. Tickets are £4.00 each and are now on sal...
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The Big Draw
29/09/2009
Get Creative at the National Coal Mining Museum for England!
Come along to the National Coal Mining Museum for England on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October for the ‘Big Draw’ event, which is part of a national campaign to get Britain drawing.
Over the weekend there will be FREE art workshops available to everyone who has an interest in art. Under the expert tuition of renowned artist Jake At...
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The Working World of Tom McGuinness – a miner and his art Special Exhibition
25/09/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce that its latest Special Exhibition will be based on the work of Tom McGuinness. ‘The Working World of Tom McGuinness – a miner and his art’ will open on Monday 12 October and will run for 13 weeks.
Tom McGuinness was a Durham miner who spent thirty-nine years in the industry; he was first conscripted as a Bevin Boy in 1944. His...
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Rockin’ events this September at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
15/09/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is holding a number of events at the end of September. On 26 September the Yorkshire Geology Society has coordinated a special day of geology activities with the Museum entitled ‘Rock and Coal’. And on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27, the Museum will be holding a dry-stone walling course.
‘Rock and Coal’ is a free event and gives visitors the chance to exam...
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Learn the art of Dry-Stone Walling at the National Coal Mining Museum.
07/09/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is holding a dry-stone walling course on the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, where you can learn how to help conserve the art of dry-stone walling.
The two day course teaches you the basic principles of dry-stone walling, which will involve taking down (‘stripping out’) a derelict or damaged section of wall and rebuilding it to a satis...
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Museum Secures £30,000 for Conservation and Redevelopment
01/09/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce that it has received a grant of £30,000 by the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund towards conserving the Museum’s 130 year old furnace shaft and developing brand new interactive displays in the famous underground tour. The grant is one of 34 made by the Fund.
Culture Minister Barbara Follett said: “We are fort...
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Eric wins his first rosette at Mirfield Show
28/08/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is proud to announce that Eric, one of its rescued Welsh ponies, has won two rosettes and a trophy at the Mirfield Show on Sunday 24 August.
Eric, who is a Welsh Section A Pony, was entered into two classes in the Horse and Pony Show. He won 1st place in Best in Condition in-Hand and 4th in the Mountain and Moorland In-Hand. Eric and his companion Ern...
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Free tickets to the film preview of King Coal: A Century of Coal Mining on Film
26/08/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England proudly presents a free preview screening of King Coal, the first instalment of a major three-year British Film Institute project celebrating the UK’s 20th century industrial heritage. This free screening takes place on Monday 7 September 2009, before the film is officially launched in Sheffield later in the month.
King Coal showcases some remarkable...
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Explore behind the Screens!
24/08/2009
As part of the Heritage Open Days, coordinated nationally by the English Heritage, the National Coal Mining Museum for England will open new doors to the public from Thursday 10 – Sunday 13 September.
This is a once-a-year opportunity for visitors to discover parts of the Museum, which are usually closed to the public. Guides from the Museum’s curatorial team will lead tours throughout the day an...
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Summer Fun Finale
23/08/2009
This week at the National Coal Mining Museum for England preparations are being made for the final week of Family Summer Fun (31 August – 4 Sept). Come and join in the fun - it’s FREE.
You can be assured that the holidays will be finishing with a bang at the Museum with our annual coal cart races. Build your Jet-Powered Coal Cart out of burger trays and balloons and race them! Who will go the f...
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Explore the wonders of dark to light
17/08/2009
The Free Family Fun Summer extravaganza continues at the National Coal Mining Museum for England this week (24 – 28 August) with ‘Dark to Light’!
Explore the concept of light in the coal mine. Learn about miners’ lamps and why they were so important. Then make and decorate your own miner’s lamp to take home.
Throughout the week there will be living history performances by Sam and Sally Fle...
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Discover Birds and Bugs
03/08/2009
During week three of the holidays (10 – 14 July), get back to nature with our ‘Bugs and Birds’ themed art and craft activities, as part of Family Summer Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum for England.
Discover insects, plants and animals when you take a stroll on the Nature Trail; why not use them for inspiration? Throughout the week there will be living-history performances by Sally Fletc...
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Fantastic Fossil Fun
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29/07/2009
As Family Summer Fun at the Museum continues into week two, the art and craft activities will be focusing on ‘Fossil Fun’.
Have you ever wanted to own your own prehistoric pet? Now you can. Learn about different fossils and how they were formed, then transform plastacine and pipe cleaners into a fossil pet.
Children love the chance to accompany an ex-miner on an underground tour, where they...
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Minister Launches Summer Fun
24/07/2009
Rosie Winterton MP, the Minister for Yorkshire, launched the Summer activities at the National Coal Mining Museum for England on the morning of Friday 24 July 2009.
Following the formalities of the launch the Minister visited the Learning Curve, where all the art and craft activities will take place. Here she watched a performance by one of the Museum’s living history interpreters, the characte...
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Summer Fun
13/07/2009
From Monday 27 July until Friday 4 September, the National Coal Mining Museum is the perfect place to keep the children busy, with plenty to do whatever the weather.
Maurice the Miner, the Museum’s mascot, will be giving visitors a friendly welcome. There’ll be a different theme for every week of the holidays to keep the kids entertained all summer long with a variety of free art and craft act...
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Leafers at t’Pit
29/06/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is preparing to host its fourth annual Land Rover Show Leaf Sprung (1948 – 1984). Last year’s event was a huge success, with many Land Rover enthusiasts praising the show for providing a return to the traditional show format. The show organisers enjoyed the event so much that they decided to return to the Museum for another vehicle extravaganza this year...
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Annual Miners’ Gala is just around the Corner
07/06/2009
This years Miners’ Gala is just around the corner. Everyone at the National Coal Mining Museum for England is busy preparing for the big day. On Sunday 7 June, families from around the region will be flocking to the Museum to enjoy a great day out. Gates will open at 10.00am, so be sure you’re here early to watch the official opening at 11.00am.
It’s the Museum’s 21st anniversary this year, whi...
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Colonel the Shire horse is coming of age!
02/06/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be celebrating Colonel the Shire Horse’s 21st birthday, not only on one day but two, as part of the Museum’s 21st Anniversary Celebrations.
Come and join the party on Saturday 6 June and enjoy a piece of birthday cake from 11.00am until 2.00pm and wish Colonel, the Museum’s gentle giant, many happy returns. Then come and watch him open the annual...
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The Annual Miners’ Gala
20/05/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be celebrating its 21st anniversary at its Annual Miners’ Gala. This year’s Gala will follow a 1940s theme and will be officially opened by local hero Bethany Salmon along with birthday boy, Colonel the Shire Horse, so be sure you’re here from 10.00am and for the official opening at 11.00am.
In past years the Gala has been a massive success, attr...
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Plenty of free activities this May Half-Term at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
19/05/2009
With so much to do this May half-term, families are spoilt for choice. Visitors will be able to enjoy free art and craft activities, and will be able to meet Billy Bear and his magical fairies from Make a Wish Entertainment, at the National Coal Mining Museum for England.
Families will have the chance to get involved in FREE art and craft activities. Have a go at the gallery trial looking at c...
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COAL . . . Gary Clarke’s personal tribute
19/05/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is set to host a very special dance performance entitled COAL on Saturday 6 June.
The award-winning choreographer Gary Clarke proudly presents a compelling and riveting piece of dance theatre, which takes a nostalgic look at the hard-hitting realities of life in the pits.
COAL explores the darker underbelly of the mining industry through a day’s ...
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Living in a Mining Community.
12/05/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is opening its new special exhibition, ‘Living in a Mining Community’, to the public on Monday 18 May 2009. The official opening for the exhibition will be performed on 27 May 2009 at 11.00am by the Rt Hon Kevin Barron, Member of Parliament for Maltby. The exhibition will be running as part of the celebrations for the Museum’s 21st anniversary, which als...
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West Yorkshire students explore their coal mining heritage through drama
11/05/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is set to host a drama festival on Wednesday 20 May 2009, in partnership with University of Leeds and a number of local secondary schools.
This is the fourth year the Museum and the University have been brought together for a day of compelling drama, entitled ‘Mining Festival 2009’!
The university students have been working with the Education Tea...
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Living in a Mining Community
06/05/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is opening its new special exhibition, ‘Living in a Mining Community’, on 18 May 2009. The exhibition will be running as part of the celebrations for the Museum’s 21st anniversary.
The Museum has made some real discoveries in its art, photographic and library collections about how life at the pit gates can be portrayed. Mining communities have always...
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Sad news about a beloved pit pony
24/04/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is sad to announce that our pit pony Robbie passed away on 18 April 2009, aged 19 years, following a sudden illness.
Robbie came to the Museum ten years ago on loan from the RSPCA. Previously he had been a working pit pony and came from the coal fields of South Wales, where he worked for five years in Pant y Gasseg drift mine. His job was to pull coa...
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Annual Miners’ Gala, celebrating 21st anniversary
20/04/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be celebrating its 21st anniversary at the annual Miners’ Gala on Sunday 7 June. This year’s Gala will follow a 1940s theme and there’ll be plenty to keep the whole family entertained all day; you won’t know where to start!
In past years the Gala has been a massive success, attracting almost 2,000 people, who enjoyed a wide range of entertainment...
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Easter Fun continues at the National Coal Mining Museum
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08/04/2009
Come and discover the best place to celebrate Easter this year, without breaking the bank. There is so much going on at the National Coal Mining Museum for England over the Easter break, you won’t know where to start!
Throughout the Easter holidays (6 – 17 April) there will be activities at the Museum. Weekdays from 6 April until 17 April there will be free family art and craft activities. Liv...
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Easter Fun at the Coal Mining Museum
25/03/2009
Come and discover the best place to celebrate Easter this year, without breaking the bank. There is so much going on at the National Coal Mining Museum for England over the Easter break, you won’t know where to start!
The highlight of the Easter Weekend (9 to 13 April) is to help the Easter Bunny and the Spring Fairies find their eggs with our Easter Egg Trail (£1.00 per trail sheet). Children...
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National Coal Mining Museum for England opens a new ‘Cutting Edge’ Exhibition.
04/03/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England today unveils a new exhibition dedicated to the Museum’s large collection of coal cutters. The collections are mainly from the local Wakefield company, British Jeffrey Diamond. The National Coal Mining Museum for England has spent the last three years recording the history of this renowned company, who were a well known manufacturer of reliable coal cutt...
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National Science and Engineering Week at the National Coal Mining Museum
02/03/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce that a range of special activities will be taking place to celebrate National Science and Engineering Week at the Museum.
The week will get underway on Sunday 8 March with ‘See How They Run!’, which gives families a chance to see engineering in action as the Museum runs some of the large machines usually kept in storage.
...
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‘See How They Run’, Coal Mining Machinery in Action.
27/02/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce a special event to enable visitors to ‘See How They Run’ on Sunday 8 March. The day will give visitors the chance to see coal mining power through the ages, with demonstrations of early horse power, right through to some of the large coal cutters usually kept in storage.
The machinery will be running to celebrate National Scie...
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Andy Burnham MP places the Coxley Live time capsule at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
16/02/2009
As part of an exciting local parish and community initiative, the Rt Hon. Andy Burnham, MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, placed a time capsule in the drift at the National Coal Mining Museum on Monday 9 February 2009.
The capsule contains all aspects of life from the Coxley parish; it is the idea of the Coxley Live Group, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The aim of the ...
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Buy a Brick appeal launches at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
04/02/2009
The Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, will be launching the ‘Buy a Brick’ appeal on Monday 9 February 2009 at the National Coal Mining Museum for England.
The ‘Buy a Brick’ appeal is to raise funds for ‘Making Sense of Mining’, a £2.73 million project to conserve the Museum’s historic furnace shaft and extend and revitalise its unique underground tour. T...
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Mitsubishi Meets Mining
03/02/2009
Calling all petrol heads! Come down to the National Coal Mining Museum for England this Sunday and you will be able to see a collection of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Cars, as part of the Lancer Register and Evo Nuts monthly meet. Owners will be coming from across Yorkshire and the Midlands to show off their prides and joy.
The meets have been running for over three years and through out the w...
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February Half-Term Activities at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
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02/02/2009
With so much to do this February half-term, families are spoilt for choice. Visitors will be able to enjoy free art and craft activities, living history performances and the popular Pocket Panto at the National Coal Mining Museum for England.
During the half-term holiday, the Museum will host living history performances. On Wednesday and Friday join Fred as he will be on hand in the Pithead Ba...
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The last year of Littleton Colliery
22/01/2009
The new special exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, is titled Littleton by Luke Unsworth. The photographic exhibition opens on Monday 26 January and will run for 13 weeks.
The exhibition is based on the miners and community around of Littleton Colliery in Cannock, Staffordshire. It takes a look at what happened to an industrial community when the industry was dismantled. ...
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National Yorkshire Pudding Day
22/01/2009
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce that it will be celebrating National Yorkshire Pudding Day on Sunday 1 February with traditional Sunday Roasts with Yorkshire Puddings.
Yorkshire puddings are a traditional dish dating back to the 1700’s. In the early days of the Yorkshire Pudding it was often served as a starter with onion gravy or as a dessert with jam sprea...
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MBE awarded to Erwin Bottomley, former Deputy Director/Mine Manager of the National Coal Mining Muse
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31/12/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted that its former Deputy Director/Mine Manager, Erwin Bottomley, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List. Erwin worked for many years for the National Coal Board, and was appointed as Deputy Director/Mine Manager at the then Yorkshire Mining Museum when he left British Coal. He started work at the Museum on 1st January 1986 and ...
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Santa Claus returns to Caphouse!
23/11/2008
Sorry Santa is now fully booked for 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Decemeber. A unique opportunity to meet Father Christmas awaits families visiting the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Due to popular demand, St. Nick is returning to Wakefield and will be resident in his underground grotto on the following dates; 25-26 November, 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 and 21-23 December.
Santa said “I’m delighted...
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Santa’s Underground Grotto is officially opened at the National Coal Mining Museum
10/11/2008
A unique opportunity to meet Santa awaits families visiting the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Due to popular demand, Santa has returned to Wakefield and will be resident in his grotto every Saturday and Sunday from 22 November and then every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout December with extra dates on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 December.
Santa said “I’ve already met lots of good...
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Wakefield victorian festival in town
03/11/2008
Wakefield Victorian Festival is back in town from Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 November and the National Coal Mining Museum for England is embracing the celebrations in true style by holding a stall in the city centre among the other Victorian market dwellers....
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Meet the Artist Tom Lamb Event
28/10/2008
A new exhibition of mining art by Tom Lamb opened on Monday 13 October at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Tom Lamb ‘My Mining Days 1946 – 1969’, is an exciting new exhibition held in celebration of the artist’s 80th birthday. The exhibition was also marked by a ‘Meet the Artist’ session which took place on Saturday 18 October.
Tom began working at Craghead Colliery, County Durham,...
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Historical Commercial Vehicle Society Rally at the National Coal Mining Museum
21/10/2008
On Sunday 26 October there will be some very special visitors arriving in some unusual forms of transport to the National Coal Mining Museum, when the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society Rally returns to Wakefield. This annual event is extremely popular and draws enthusiasts from far and wide.
From 10.00am onwards, Museum visitors will be able to view vehicles from the 1920s right through to th...
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Eric and Ernie are here to stay
23/09/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is happy to announce that Eric and Ernie, the latest pair of Ponies to arrive at the Museum are officially here to stay.
After a year on a probationary adoption from the RSPCA Eric and Ernie who were rescued from a coalfield area in Wales, can call the Museum home. RSPCA Inspector Nicky Foster, Inspector for the Huddersfield and Dewsbury area, arrive...
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Last chance to see historic mining banners
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15/09/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England’s special exhibition, Basically Banners will be closing on 28 September. Basically Banners is an exciting exhibition which showcases many of the mining banners held at the Museum. A number of banners have been specially conserved for the exhibition. These banners have not previously been on public display, since arriving from the Yorkshire branch of the ...
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Integrated Water Management INWATCO publication Launch
05/09/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England hosted the launch of a major EU funded research publication – Integrated Water Management in former coal mining regions – at an event on Friday 5 September 2008. Present at the launch were the Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Dr. Helen Mounsey, Chair of the Coal Authority and the project t...
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Discover more during Heritage Open Days
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04/09/2008
As part of the Heritage Open Days, coordinated nationally by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage, the National Coal Mining Museum for England will open new doors to the public from Thursday 11 – Sunday 14 September.
This is a once-a-year opportunity to discover the Screens Building at the Museum. Guides from the Museum’s curatorial team will lead tours throughout the afternoon, f...
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Summer Fun Finale
18/08/2008
The Family Summer Fun is reaching its dramatic climax at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. You can be assured that the holidays will be finishing with a bang at the Museum with our annual coal cart races. Contestants are invited to build their Jet Powered Coal Cart and then race them, who will be first to reach the finish line. Come and join in the fun - its FREE.
Throughout t...
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Pay Dispute Settled
18/08/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce that the dispute over the pay award between the Museum and the Unison union has been resolved. The package that was offered by the Museum for the next two years is made up of an improved cash offer and improvements in terms and conditions of service. The offer was accepted by union members in a ballot held by the union. This means ...
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Rockin' Art!
11/08/2008
The Free Family Fun Summer extravaganza continues at the National Coal Mining Museum for England this week with Rock Art! Find out about rocks and stones. Then decorate a rock to take home. It’s FREE so why not roll along.
Take a walk along the nature trail and find more rocks and stones, or have fun in the adventure playground. Bring a picnic and then stroll up to Hope Pit, a fascinati...
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Calling all ‘Mini-Gardeners’ to the National Coal Mining Museum for England
04/08/2008
Get potting down at the National Coal Mining Museum, as part of their FREE summer of activities. Enjoy the great outdoors and make a special souvenir to take home. Gardening was a popular pastime of the miners and so children visiting the Museum will have the chance to decorate their own plant pot and then sow seedlings. Will yours become flowers which butterflies want to visit?
The Mus...
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Pit Pony Puppets
28/07/2008
The spotlight turns on the pit ponies this week, as part of Family Summer Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Children can make their very own pit pony puppet and discover more about what jobs the ponies did at the mines.
The Museum’s pit ponies are a firm favourite with all ages of visitor and they include Colonel the shire horse, who recently celebrated his 20th birthd...
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A smashing time for all the family
21/07/2008
Make your own Victorian rug and join in with some tile-smashing, as part of Summer Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum for England.
For one week only, children have the chance to have a go at Victorian rug-making and make a truly unique souvenir of their visit. They can then enjoy a fascinating living history performance by Sally Fletcher. Sally worked underground with her whole fami...
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Make your own Mining Banner
14/07/2008
Family Summer Fun kicks off in style at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. From Monday 21 July to Friday 25 July, local artist Emma Spencer will be on hand to help visitors create their very own Mining Banner, the workshop gives families the chance to master the art of banner making completely free of charge. This is in conjunction with the summer special exhibition Basically Banners, wh...
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Summer Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
07/07/2008
From Monday 21 July until Friday 29 August, the National Coal Mining Museum is the perfect place to keep the children busy and there will be plenty to do whatever the weather.
Maurice the Miner is the Museum’s mascot and he will be giving visitors his friendly welcome. There’ll be a different theme for every week of the holidays to keep the kids entertained all summer long with a variet...
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Leafers at t’Pit
30/06/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is preparing to host its third annual Land Rover Show. Last year’s event was a huge success, with many Land Rover enthusiasts praising the show for providing a return to the traditional show format. Series II Club, the show organisers enjoyed the event so much that they decided to return to the Museum for another vehicle extravaganza this year!
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Painting a Picture of Mine at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
23/06/2008
Set your artistic side free at the National Coal Mining Museum for England on Saturday 12 July, with local artist Jane Gamble. She is bringing her skills and knowledge to the Museum to create a giant watercolour based on Caphouse colliery and its surroundings.
Jane, who is based in Halifax, will be on hand to provide hints and tips throughout the day and participants will have the oppor...
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Coal Gift given to the National Coal Mining Museum for England
16/06/2008
To celebrate the National Coal Mining Museum for England 20th anniversary, Unity Gifts in Wakefield have kindly donated a coal model entitled ‘1st shift’ to commemorate the occasion.
The model was presented by Geoff Place and Adrian Beer from Unity Gifts to the Chair of the Museum, Baroness Morris of Yardley at the Museum on 6 June.
Geoff Place, Unity Gifts said ‘We have work...
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Basically Banners exhibition opens at National Coal Mining Museum for England
10/06/2008
A new exhibition, Basically Banners – Union Banners of the Coalfields was opened at the National Coal Mining Museum on 6 June 2008. The exhibition is part of the Museum’s 20th anniversary which also included Colonel’s birthday and will see Brassed off on the Saturday 14 June and Elland Silver Brass Band outdoor concert at the Museum on Saturday 21 June.
Basically Banners is an exciting ...
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Students set to become entrepreneurs for the day at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
09/06/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be hosting an Enterprise Day in organised by the Education Team at the Museum and Young Enterprise on Friday 13 June. It will involve students from Cathedral High School, Wakefield who will be taking part in an Industry Masterclass, giving them the opportunity to find out more about careers and the different business opportunities within a specific ...
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Miners Gala 8 June 2008 Cancelled
02/06/2008
It is with great regret that the National Coal Mining Museum for England announces that its 4th Annual Miners Gala has had to be cancelled. The Museum will be closed all day on 8 June 2008.
The reason for the cancellation and closure is that members of the Unison union have called strike action for that day. After much consideration the Museum has determined that it is best to close the...
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Happy Birthday Colonel
26/05/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be celebrating Colonel the Shire horse’s 20th Birthday on Saturday 31 May, part of the Museum’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations.
Colonel has been one of the main attractions at the Museum for the past 17 years. In past years, Colonel has been shown at county level by the Museum, attending numerous shows and game fairs in heavy horse turnout...
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National Coal Mining Museum for England Industrial Action Closure and Half Term Activities
22/05/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be closed on Sunday 25 May and Bank Holiday Monday 26 May 2008 as a result of industrial action being taken by the Unison union in support of their pay claim.
The Museum will be open on Saturday 24 May as usual with all the normal activities (underground tour, pit ponies and interactive galleries) available. In addition to this there will...
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20th Anniversary Celebrations at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
19/05/2008
This year the National Coal Mining Museum for England will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a number of special events to mark the occasion starting at the end of May and throughout June.
The celebrations will kick off in style with an out-of-the ordinary performance from the outstanding vocal group The Clerks on Friday 30 May. For the first time, the Museum will be holding the p...
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Learn about inventions
12/05/2008
Families will be able to learn all about mining inventions at the National Coal Mining Museum for England this May half term. There will be craft workshops exploring mining inventions during which young inventors can build and decorate their own paper lamp to take home!
Every day during the half term holiday, the Museum will also host its famous living history performances, which tell s...
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We Are Getting Dramatic
28/04/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is set to host a drama festival on 1 May 2008, in partnership with Leeds University and a number of local secondary schools. This is the third year of collaboration between the Museum and The University of Leeds. For the first time, the drama pieces will be performed outside, enabling the students to use the Museum’s evocative site as a backdrop to their...
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‘Bevin Boys’ Receive Recognition at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
24/04/2008
On the 2 May 2008, 50 former ‘Bevin Boys’ who worked in Yorkshire collieries during the Second World War will receive their commemorative badges from Lord Mason of Barnsley and Mary Creagh MP at the National Coal Mining Museum for England in Wakefield.
Thousands of conscripts who worked down coal mines in the Second World War, whose work was vital to the country’s war effort, have only ...
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A Night at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
21/04/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is celebrating Museums and Galleries Month with a variety of family events and activities following the theme of mining inventions.
The Museum will be celebrating Museums and Galleries month with a special event on May 17. During the day visitors can ‘See How They Run’ with a number of pieces of coal mining machinery running, giving them an in...
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Raise a glass to the 20th Anniversary Celebrations at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
14/04/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a number of events and activities happening over May and June. As part of the celebrations the Museum is launching its very own ale! ‘Colliers Ruin’ will be tried and tested by members of Wakefield CAMRA who will give their verdict next week. The real ale was brewed specially by Ossett Brewery and will be on ...
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Music Goes Deeper Underground
07/04/2008
The outstanding vocal group The Clerks are performing an exhilarating underground concert for the National Coal Mining Museum for England on Friday 30 May. This unforgettable soundscape of words and music is an experience not to be missed.
For the first time, the Museum will be holding the performance underground and the location will only add to the splendour and unique nature of The C...
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Over 130,000 discover the National Coal Mining Museum for England
02/04/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England smashed its previous highest visitor numbers during 2007
8, with over 135,000 people taking advantage of the facilities available, at the free Wakefield based attraction. This is an increase of 4.5% on last year’s numbers.
2007
8 was the Museum’s most successful year to date scooping the White Rose Award for Tourism Attractio...
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Barclays ‘Buy a Brick’
31/03/2008
Barclays Plc has launched the National Coal Mining Museum for England’s brand new Buy a Brick campaign with a generous donation of £2,000 to the fund.
The Buy a Brick campaign has been launched to raise funds for the renovation of the Museums’ historic furnace shaft. This is part of the underground tour, an attraction at the Museum which allows the 130,000 visitors a year to travel 140 ...
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Mining Museum in Miniature
12/03/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum will be available in miniature from this weekend, when a model of the Museum will be launched at the famous Peter Jones’ Collectors Spring Event at the Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield. ‘Lunchtime at Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield’ features two pit ponies and the miners having their ‘snap’.
The model has been designed and manufactured by Lilliput Lane and wil...
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Easter Fun at Mining Museum
10/03/2008
Come and discover the best place to celebrate Easter this year, without breaking the bank. There is so much going on at the National Coal Mining Museum for England over the Easter break, you won’t know where to start!
Throughout the Easter holidays (19 March – 2 April) there will be free family arts and crafts activities. The Museum is also a great place to enjoy the outdoors (weather p...
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Museum Secures £1.95 million for Conservation and Redevelopment
04/03/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce a grant of £1.95 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards conserving the Museum’s 130 year old furnace shaft and developing brand new interactive displays on the famous underground tour.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also contributing £150,000 towards the work and the Department for Business, Enterp...
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Restored British Jeffrey Diamond Equipment Runs at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
27/02/2008
British Jeffrey Diamond Mining Equipment from the 1950’s was running today in the heart of West Yorkshire. Today marks the first time that this Ace coal cutter has run for many years , it has been conserved as part of the Museum’s three year Cutting Edge Heritage Project. The project has been involved in conserving coal cutters, as well as conserving and digitising an archive of photographs from W...
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‘See How They Run’ Coal Mining Machinery in Action
25/02/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce a special family day to enable visitors to ‘See How They Run’ on Sunday 9 March. The day will give visitors the chance to see coal mining power throughout the ages, with demonstrations of early horse power, right through to some of the large coal cutters usually kept in storage.
The machinery will be running to celebrat...
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Yorkshire Wind Orchestra Blow into the Museum
18/02/2008
Enjoy an evening of great music in picturesque surroundings in rural West Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Wind Orchestra is playing its first concert at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield, on Saturday 8 March 2008.
The Yorkshire Wind Orchestra is, a quality wind ensemble made up of players from throughout the Yorkshire region. Woodwind, brass and percussion create a fantasti...
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Search for the Coal Queens of Britain
12/02/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is searching for Coal Queens! As part of its 20th Anniversary celebrations during 2008, the Museum is holding its 4th Annual Miners’ Gala on Sunday 8 June. A range of activities and performances are planned for the gala, which will be offer free admission for all visitors and as part of the day, the Museum is looking for past winners of the Coal Queen co...
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Robert Napier Opens Special Exhibition at Coal Mining Museum
05/02/2008
A new exhibition, Changing Landscapes, was opened at the National Coal Mining Museum on 4 February by Robert Napier, Chairman of national regeneration agency, English Partnerships. The Museum was delighted with the response the exhibition received from guests at the official opening and from the general public.
Changing Landscapes focuses on the physical and social changes that have take...
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Champagne Evening at Museum
04/02/2008
Enjoy an evening of extravagance as the Classic Champagne Company host a tasting session at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield, on Friday 22 February.
The evening will start at 6.00pm as guests receive a champagne reception before having the opportunity to take a special underground tour, led by an ex-miner.
The Classic Champagne Company will offer guests f...
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Local School Pupils Design New Museum Logo
30/01/2008
Enterprise Week, now in its fourth year, took place from 12-18 November and saw over 5,000 events take place throughout the UK. The National Coal Mining Museum for England invited students from Cathedral School in Wakefield to visit the Museum, and design a logo for the Museum’s 20th anniversary celebrations in 2008.
The students received a full design brief and were treated to a tour of...
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Death of John Gunnell, Former Museum Trustee
29/01/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is deeply saddened by news of the death on Tuesday January 2008 of John Gunnell, who had been the longest-serving Trustee of the Museum. Mr Gunnell was a member of West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council from 1977 until 1986; he became Leader of the Council in 1981. The following year he and the Leader of Wakefield Council organised the setting up of ...
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National Yorkshire Pudding Day
28/01/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce that it will be celebrating National Yorkshire Pudding Day on Sunday 3 February with traditional Sunday Roasts with Yorkshire Puddings. Yorkshire puddings are a traditional dish dating back to the 1700’s. In the early days of the Yorkshire it was often served as a starter with onion gravy or as a dessert with jam spread on it. Th...
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February Half Term at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
21/01/2008
Families will be able to enjoy free arts and crafts activities at the National Coal Mining Museum for England this half term. The workshops will relate to the Museum’s brand new special exhibition; Changing Landscapes, which gives a fascinating insight into the changes that have taken place around coal mining sites within a single generation. Every week day during the half-term holiday, the Museum...
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From Outer Space to Underground
16/01/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce that a range of special activities will be taking place to celebrate National Science and Engineering Week at the Museum. Activities are linked to the National Curriculum and for the first time, the Museum will be working with SETPOINT West Yorkshire.
The week will get underway on Monday 10 March with a space extravaga...
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The Adventures of Colonel
14/01/2008
As part of National Storytelling Week, families visiting the National Coal Mining Museum for England are invited to take part in a one day only Storytelling Spectacular, on Sunday 27 January 2007. Our storyteller will tell coal mining related stories in the Education Activities room. Hear all about the adventures of the Museum’s Shire horse, Colonel, and take part in the stories by making your own...
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New Mine Manager at National Coal Mining Museum for England
07/01/2008
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce that Willie McGranaghan has been appointed as Deputy Director and Mine Manager, a position that requires two hats or ‘helmets!’ to be worn. Firstly, that of Mine Manager, where responsibilities include managing forty-six miners, checking gas levels (especially when the barometer drops), monitoring the mine water pumping operation (...
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Museum Unveils ‘Testing for Gas’ Sculpture
20/11/2007
A new sculpture has been unveiled at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. The sculpture, Testing for Gas, has been donated to the Museum jointly by Mr John Harris, the outgoing Chair of the Coal Authority, and by renowned sculptor, Mr Antony Dufort.
Guests, including the Deputy Mayor and Consort of Wakefield and the Deputy Mayor of Kirklees, were welcomed by the new Chair of the Museum, t...
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Santa comes to The National Coal Mining Museum
12/11/2007
A unique opportunity to meet Santa awaits families visiting the National Coal Mining Museum for England. Due to popular demand, Santa is returning to Wakefield and will be resident in his underground grotto every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Saturday 24 November until Sunday 23 December, with an extra date on Thursday 20 December.
Santa said “I’m delighted to be back at the Museum, ...
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Victorian Festival comes to Wakefield
07/11/2007
Wakefield Victorian Festival is back in town from 15 – 18 November and the National Coal Mining Museum for England is embracing the celebrations in true style by holding a stall in the city centre among the other Victorian market dwellers.
As part of Wakefield Council’s Victorian Market, the National Coal Mining Museum’s stall will provide plenty of ideas for unusual Christmas presents,...
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Pit Brass at Coal Mining Museum
05/11/2007
Romiley Little Theatre Group will be bringing their latest production ‘One Big Blow’ to the National Coal Mining Museum for England on Saturday, 17 November.
One Big Blow is a unique production that originally toured pit villages in 1982 when it was also televised by Granada Television. The play is set in a 1980s coal mining village and portrays two sides of a miner’s life; the tough co...
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Rosie Winterton Opens Special Exhibition at Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield
29/10/2007
A new exhibition, Coals to Calder Grove was opened at the National Coal Mining Museum on October 25 by the Rt. Hon. Rosie Winterton, Minister of State at the Department for Transport. The Museum is delighted with the response the exhibition has received from guests at the official opening and the general public alike.
The exhibition is based around the story of the Caphouse mineral rail...
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Historical Commercial Vehicle Society Rally at the National Coal Mining Museum
22/10/2007
On Sunday 28 October at the National Coal Mining Museum some very special visitors will arrive in some unusual forms of transport, when the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society Rally returns to Wakefield. This annual event is extremely popular and draws enthusiasts from far and wide.
From 10.00am onwards, Museum visitors will be able to view vehicles from the 1920s right through to the 1...
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Spooky Goings On at the National Coal Mining Museum
15/10/2007
Get a feel for the scary season with spooky storytelling at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. From Monday 22 to Thursday 25 October and Monday 29 October to Thursday 1 November, you’ll be able to join in the free ‘Spooky Stories by Lamplight’ workshops at the Museum that will be just right to get you into the Halloween mood.
You can also take in a living history performance b...
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Creative minds at t’Pit
08/10/2007
This coming weekend the National Coal Mining Museum for England will play host to the ‘Big Draw’ and Coxley Live. Both events provide opportunities for the local community to explore their creative side whilst enjoying a fun sociable atmosphere in the beautiful surrounds of the Museum.
The Big Draw is part of a national campaign to get Britain drawing and dates all the way back to Victo...
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Discover Family Learning
01/10/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is celebrating Family Learning Week by running free workshops entitled ‘Families Dig Deeper’ on October 7. The workshops will be running at 12.00pm, 1.00pm, 2.00pm, and 3.00pm and should be booked at Reception on the day.
Family Learning Week is an annual awareness campaign which aims to highlight the importance that families can have in suppo...
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There's Trouble at T'Mill!
24/09/2007
Prepare to be spooked when the National Coal Mining Museum for England hosts a Murder Mystery evening on Saturday 6 October 2007. Skulduggery, one of the UK’s most successful Murder Mystery entertainment providers, has pulled out all the stops to create an action-packed evening of murderous entertainment.
There's Trouble at T’Mill! Celebrate in style with Styal's High Fashions prior to ...
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Museum and University Develop a Chemical Bond
17/09/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England in Wakefield and the University of Huddersfield have teamed up to provide a practical workshop that teaches GCSE science pupils about the environmental impact of mining. The Museum has been working closely with Dr. Jeremy Hopwood, Science Communicator from the University’s School of Applied Sciences, to develop a workshop entitled “What’s in your Water?”...
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Officially the Best Attraction in Yorkshire
12/09/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England, in Wakefield, scooped the prestigious White Rose Award for Tourism Attraction of the Year (50,000 visitors and over) at the awards ceremony held at the Magna last night. The White Rose Awards are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the tourism industry and having scooped the Attraction of the Year Award (50,000 visitors and over) the Museum hopes to represent t...
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Become a Miner for the Day with TopLots
10/09/2007
In October 2007 The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be participating in an exciting new initiative: TopLots – the first eBay auction of its kind where the UK’s museums, galleries and heritage attractions go online with unique experiences and ‘behind the scenes’ activities up for grabs! The National Coal Mining Museum's lot will be open to bids from 1 October - 11 October.
A...
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Discover more during Heritage Open Days
03/09/2007
As part of Heritage Open Days, coordinated nationally by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage, the National Coal Mining Museum for England will open new doors to the public from 7-9 September.
This is a once-a-year chance to discover the Screens Building at the Museum. Guides from the Museum’s curatorial team will lead tours throughout the afternoon, following the route ...
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Final Week of Family Summer Fun - Jet Powered Coal Carts
28/08/2007
Family Summer Fun is reaching its dramatic climax this week at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. You can assured that the holidays will be finishing with a bang at the Museum with Jet powered Coal Carts returning by popular demand! It’s your opportunity to build and race you own cart, you’ll need to be more Richard Branson than Lewis Hamilton if you want to win the race though, the cart...
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Videoconferencing Brings Mining to Life for Schools
27/08/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce an exciting programme of videoconferencing workshops made possible by a grant of £8,500 from the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), awarded earlier this year.
Two workshops are available for primary schools; In the ‘Meet a real Miner’ workshop, pupils are given the opportunity to hear about a typical ‘day in...
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Jurassic Park at the Museum!
20/08/2007
The Family Fun Summer marathon continues at the National Coal Mining Museum for England this week; as the clock is wound back to pre-historic times, when Dinosaurs roamed the earth and the fossils we find today were living creatures! Its fossil fun week and the Museum are running free family workshops in which you can make your own dinosaurs and fossils as well as learning about the real things! <...
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Painting Pots
13/08/2007
It’s week 4 of Family Summer Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum. As we enter mid-August the fun is staying outside and there’s an opportunity for young nature enthusiasts to be at one with nature by decorating a plant pot, in which they will be able to grow their own plant and watch it grow!
If that’s not enough excitement for you, you can take in a living history performance by Sal...
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No Kitchen Nightmares at t'Pit
10/08/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England Café has achieved a 5 star hygiene rating from Wakefield Council following a recent spot check of the facilities. The rating is based on hygiene, structure and confidence in management.
5 star hygiene ratings aren’t given out lightly; just 5% of the 683 establishments checked by Wakefield Council have achieved a 5 star rating, with just the NC...
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The Birds and the Bees
31/07/2007
It’s week 3 of Family Summer Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum for England and the fun is venturing into the great outdoors! The Museum’s nature trail will provide the spectacular back drop to the bird and bug activities that will be taking place at Hope Pit. You can develop a bird collage having observed the birds on site from the bird hides or make your own pom-poms bugs to cheer on your fa...
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Pit Pony Puppets
23/07/2007
The Pit Ponies take centre stage during the second week of Family Summer Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. You can stroll down to the stables and meet the ponies in the morning before venturing to the Learning Curve in the afternoon to learn all about ponies and make a sock puppet of your favourite pony, you’ll need a big sock if you pick the Museum’s Shire horse Colonel! If you’...
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Coal and Crafts from China
16/07/2007
Family Summer Fun kicks off in style at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. The Coal & Crafts from China workshops give families the chance to master new skills completely free of charge! You can take the opportunity to see the light at the end of the tunnel by making your own Chinese lantern and investigating your zodiac sign. Alternatively why not have a go at the ancient art of calligr...
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Family Fun at the Miners’ Gala
09/07/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is preparing for its third annual Miners’ Gala, which will take place on Sunday 22 July 2007.
Following on from the huge success of the 2006 Gala, this year’s event will be even bigger and better with a range of activities, entertainment and rides. Maurice the Miner, the Museum’s mascot, will be there enjoying the fun, he will be joined by the...
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New Arrivals ‘Bring Sunshine’ t’Pit
04/07/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum would like to welcome its two newest recruits; Eric and Ernie! The two new Ponies arrived at the Museum at the end of last week and are the latest addition to the stable at Caphouse Colliery.
After the sad news earlier this year that Sparky, the oldest deep mine pit pony had passed away, the Museum decided the time had come to look at some more ponies.
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Leafers at t'Pit
02/07/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is preparing to host its second annual Land Rover Show. Last year’s event was a huge success, with many Land Rover enthusiasts praising the show for providing a return to the traditional show format. Series II Club, the show organisers enjoyed the event so much that they decided to return to the Museum for another vehicle extravaganza this year!
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Record Breakers Spend a Night at the Museum
25/06/2007
A local Brownie Troop took part in the Giant Sleepover 2007 at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. 30 Brownies from units in Horbury, Middlestown and Netherton spent almost 24 hours at the Museum, where they took the opportunity to take the Museum’s underground tour, follow the Hope Trail and were entertained by a living history performance by Mrs Lockwood.
The Brownies thoroug...
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Old King Coal brings the Miners’ Strike back to Yorkshire
18/06/2007
Steel Valley Beacon Arts will be bringing their latest production ‘Old King Coal’ to the National Coal Mining Museum for England on Saturday, 30 June.
This unique musical focuses on the Miners’ Strike of 1984 and how it affected people in many communities; bringing them together in astonishing ways. Peter Fearnley’s play observes one extended family in an imaginary pit village, Coakley,...
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‘Brassed Off’ at The National Coal Mining Museum for England
14/06/2007
Enjoy an evening of great music in picturesque surrounds in rural West Yorkshire. Elland Silver Brass Band is playing an evening concert at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield, on Saturday 23 June.
Elland Silver Brass Band has an extensive repertoire including arrangements of popular orchestral classics, from film music to jazz and popular selections, and of course, b...
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On Yer Bike!
11/06/2007
Matt Marsh, Marketing Assistant at the National Coal Mining Museum will be on his bike next week, cycling the 15 miles from his home in Leeds to the Museum in Wakefield. Matt will be cycling to work as part of Bike Week, which runs from 16 – 24 June and is a national initiative to encourage people to use their bikes to get around.
Matt said of his planned trip “Over the course of the we...
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Transporting Coals to Calder Grove – an ingenious solution
04/06/2007
A new exhibition, Coals to Calder Grove, is due to open at the National Coal Mining Museum on 15 October. Based around the story of the Caphouse mineral railway, much of the research for the exhibition was originally carried out by local historians, who spoke with workers on the line. The Museum will be pleased to hear from people with memories of the Caphouse mineral railway or those who worked o...
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Meet the Yorkshire Miner in Minehead!
22/05/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England has recently been awarded a grant of £8,500 to fund a video conferencing facility. The grant was awarded to the Museum following a joint bid between Jayne Ambrose, the Museum’s Education Officer, Paul Butler of Wakefield Metropolitan Council and Andrew Lickley of the Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning Foundation.
The grant was awarded by M...
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An ‘International’ May Half Term at The National Coal Mining Museum for England
14/05/2007
Families will be able to find out more about mining in other cultures at the National Coal Mining Museum for England this half term. There will be workshops exploring the identities of different coal producing nations; the workshops will include object handling and lots of discussion!
Every day during the half-term holiday, the Museum will also host their famous living history performan...
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British Jeffrey Diamond
08/05/2007
In September last year, the National Coal Mining Museum for England was awarded a grant, of £350,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Yorkshire and the Humber Committee. The funding is being used to conserve the Museum’s collection of coal cutting machinery, and save British Jeffrey Diamond’s (BJD), unique, unpublished collection of photographs.
The Museum’s ‘Cutting Edge’ team have rec...
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Museums and Galleries Month at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
30/04/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is celebrating Museums and Galleries Month with a variety of family events and activities.
Yorkshire Geology Month will be taking place in May and the West Yorkshire Regionally Important Geological Sites group (RIGS) will be onsite hosting a Rock and Fossil road show between 2pm and 4pm on the 26 May. Bring your rocks, minerals and fossils to ...
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A world of coal united at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
23/04/2007
A new exhibition, United by Coal is due to open at the National Coal Mining Museum this month. The Museum is delighted to announce that Mary Creagh, Member of Parliament for Wakefield, will open the 2007 summer exhibition at the Museum on Friday 11 May at 11.30am.
United by Coal tells the little known story of how coalfield communities the world over share a common bond. A bond so stron...
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Nearly 130,000 go “Dah’nt Pit”
16/04/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England smashed its previous highest visitor numbers during 2006
7, with almost 130,000 people taking advantage of the facilities available, at the free Wakefield based attraction.
The Museum received rave reviews from visitors, with 95% of visitors rating the Museum as good or very good. In addition 25% of all visitors to the Museum were rep...
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BJD Reunion a Resounding Success
09/04/2007
In September last year, the National Coal Mining Museum for England, near Wakefield, was awarded a grant of £350,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Yorkshire and the Humber Committee. The funding is being used to conserve the Museum’s collection of coal cutting machinery, and save a unique, unpublished collection of photographs from the Wakefield based company, British Jeffrey Diamond (BJD), whi...
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Sad News
29/03/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is sad to announce that our beloved pit pony Sparky passed away on 29 March 2007, aged 36 years, following a short illness.
Sparky had been a resident at the Museum for 18 years, following his retirement from Ellington Colliery in 1988. He had worked at Ellington Colliery, along with Carl who sadly passed away in October 2006 aged 29 years. Fo...
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Maintenance work at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
26/03/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England in Wakefield, would like to inform visitors that the underground tour will be closed for 2 days in March. On the 29 and 30 of March, the cage which carries visitors down the 140 metre mine shaft will be undergoing maintenance work.
The Museum would still like to encourage visitors to enjoy the extensive exhibitions and activities available abo...
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A Different Kind of Digging at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
21/03/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England was the setting for a different type digging this weekend. The 44th Guides of Horbury Bridge, Middlestown Brownie unit and 1st Gaskell Rainbows who meet at Horbury Junior and Infant School spent time planting trees on the Museum site. The groups combined the tree planting with a visit underground and a workshop.
The Rainbows, Brownie and Guide...
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Easter Fun
20/03/2007
Come and discover the best place to celebrate Easter this year, without breaking the bank. There is so much going on at the National Coal Mining Museum for England over the Easter break, you won’t know where to start!
The highlight of the Easter Weekend (6-9 April) is a chance to meet the Easter Bunny and help him find his eggs with our Easter Egg Trail. Children will need to solve ridd...
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Murder Mystery at The National Coal Mining Museum for England
14/03/2007
Prepare to be a super sleuth when the National Coal Mining Museum for England hosts a Murder Mystery evening on 24 March 2007. Skulduggery, the UK’s most successful Murder Mystery Company, has pulled out all the stops to create an action-packed evening of murderous entertainment.
Lethal Lovers Tony & Eve are having a not too discreet affair. Although Tony is happy to deceive his wife, E...
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National Coal Mining Museum acquires Henry Moore artwork
12/03/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum in Overton near Wakefield has recently acquired an iconic piece of artwork by Castleford-born artist and sculptor Henry Moore. The piece entitled Miner Drilling uses a mixture of crayon, pen and ink and was completed in 1942 during Moore’s time at Wheldale Colliery.
With the help of a £3,150 grant from The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charit...
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Flying the Flag for Nationalisation at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
05/03/2007
Were you a miner in 1947? Do you remember vesting day?
On 1 January 2007, it was sixty years since the coal industry in the UK was nationalised. To mark this occasion, the National Coal Mining Museum for England will be producing a CD of stories for 2007. The Museum is interested in recording men and women from former mining communities who remember this historic day.
To cele...
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‘Gear up’ for National Science and Engineering Week at the National Coal Mining Museum!
01/03/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to announce that the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Member of Parliament for Normanton, Mr Ed Balls officially launched National Science and Engineering Week at the Museum on the 9 March 2007.
To celebrate National Science and Engineering Week from 11 – 19 March 2007, the Museum is offering FREE schools workshops for Year ...
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Compelling Youth Drama at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
27/02/2007
Budding actors from across Wakefield are busy working on a series of original new performances exploring their mining heritage. This innovative project is being run by a team of students from Leeds University and the final result will be performed at the National Coal Mining Museum for England on 9 March 2007.
The university students are working towards their BA in Arts Education and ha...
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New bus route improves accessibility to National Coal Mining Museum
12/02/2007
A new bus service from Wakefield to Dewsbury began on 27 January 2007, improving accessibility for visitors of the National Coal Mining Museum, near Grange Moor. The service is an extension of the existing 128 service which currently passes through Middlestown. The new route starting at Wakefield bus station will continue onto Dewsbury via Thornes, Horbury and Middlestown, to a new bus stop outsid...
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Fabulous Free Family Fun for February at National Coal Mining Museum for England
06/02/2007
Get excited this February half term with free family activities at the National Coal Mining Museum for England in Wakefield. From Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 and Tuesday 20 and Thursday 22 February, you’ll be able to join in with ‘Drawn Underground’, arts and crafts sessions based around our current exhibition by ex-miner and artist Harry Malkin.
To complement the exhibition ‘20:20 Hindsi...
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Events, exhibitions and excitement: National Coal Mining Museum launches 2007 events
31/01/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Bannister as the new Marketing Manager.
Rachel will be heading up the Marketing Team at the Museum and is really looking forward to the challenge. “Museums and tourism is really where my passion lies within Marketing and I am excited about the challenge of coming into the Museum during a year wh...
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Events, exhibitions and excitement: National Coal Mining Museum launches 2007 events
31/01/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England has announced its programme of events for 2007 and has again demonstrated it is a must-visit attraction for visitors of all ages.
The year is packed with events, free family workshops and exhibitions, along with a few more unusual surprises. The Museum itself continues to expand and develop, so it’s no surprise 99% of recent visitors rated the...
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New Chairman at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
31/01/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to be able to announce that the Rt Hon the Baroness Morris of Yardley will join the Board of Trustees as Chairman, following the resignation of the Rt Hon the Baroness Lockwood, who has chaired the Board for over eleven years.
The Museum and the Board of Trustees would like to thank Baroness Lockwood for the immense amount of work...
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‘20:20 Hindsight’ Art Inspired by the Coal Mine
10/01/2007
From 15 January – 22 April 2007, visitors to the National Coal Mining Museum for England, near Wakefield, are invited to visit a new temporary art exhibition by the artist Harry Malkin. The exhibition, entitled ’20:20 Hindsight’, showcases Malkin’s work, which was inspired by his experiences as a miner at Fryston Colliery, Wakefield. The exhibition will be formally opened on Friday 19 January 2007...
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Maintenance work at the National Coal Mining Museum
03/01/2007
The National Coal Mining Museum for England in Overton, would like to inform visitors that the underground tour will be closed for three days in January. Between 9-11 January, the cage which carries visitors down the 140 metre mine shaft will be undergoing maintenance work. By law, every 20 years the guide ropes which steer the cage within the shaft have to be replaced. This work will take three d...
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Do You Remember British Jeffrey Diamond?
06/12/2006
In September last year, the National Coal Mining Museum for England, near Wakefield, was awarded a grant of £350,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Yorkshire and the Humber Committee. The funding is being used to conserve the Museum’s collection of coal cutting machinery, and save a unique, unpublished collection of photographs from the Wakefield based company, British Jeffrey Diamond (BJD), whi...
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Pit Ponies Make Perfect Presents!
29/11/2006
If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the person who has everything, why not adopt a pit pony as a present for them?
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is home to three retired pit ponies and one Shire horse. For just £12.50, an adoption can be taken out for the pony of your choice for one year. Adopters will receive a personalised adoption certificate, colour photogra...
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Christmas Brass at the National Coal Mining Museum
15/11/2006
Enjoy a festive evening of great music in picturesque surrounds in rural West Yorkshire. Elland Silver Brass Band is playing an evening concert at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, in Overton, on Saturday 25 November.
Elland Silver Brass Band has an extensive repertoire including arrangements of popular orchestral classics, from film music to jazz and popular selections, and of cour...
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National Coal Mining Museum for England Goes Victorian
09/11/2006
Wakefield Victorian Festival is back in town from 16 – 19 November and the National Coal Mining Museum for England is embracing the celebrations in true style by holding a stall in the city centre among the other Victorian market dwellers.
As part of Wakefield Council’s Victorian Market, the National Coal Mining Museum’s stall will provide plenty of ideas for unusual Christmas presents, or a c...
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National Coal Mining Museum for England gears up for vehicle rally
25/10/2006
On Sunday 29 October the National Coal Mining Museum around fifty visitors will arrive in some unusual methods of transport, when the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society Rally returns to Wakefield. This annual event is extremely popular and draws enthusiasts from far and wide.
From 10am onwards, Museum visitors will be able to view vehicles from way back in the 1920s right through to the 1970s...
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There’s some creepy goings on at the National Coal Mining Museum for England
18/10/2006
Get a feel for the scary season with spooky arts and crafts sessions at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. From Monday 23 to Friday 27 October, you’ll be able to join in the free ‘Spooky Science’ workshops at the Museum that will be just right to get you into the Halloween mood.
The free family workshops will help you explore the science behind scary shadows and the spooky science of...
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Sad News
13/10/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is sad to announce that our beloved pit pony Carl passed away on 13 October 2006, aged 29 years, following a short illness.
Carl had been at the Museum for twelve years, following his retirement from Ellington Colliery in 1994. He was one of the last four ponies brought out of the colliery and had worked there for some twelve years, moving materials ...
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Dreams and Nightmares at the National Coal Mining Museum
09/10/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is celebrating Family Learning Week by running free workshops entitled ‘Darkness and Light: Dreams and Nightmares’. The workshops will be open for the whole family to enjoy from 11am until 4pm on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October.
In association with ‘The Big Draw’ campaign for drawing, families are invited to explore the haunting world of life under...
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Recollections of Lofthouse 1973
04/10/2006
On Thursday 12th October 2006, The National Coal Mining Museum for England will be hosting an evening event ‘Recollections of Lofthouse 1973’. The event is linked with the Museum’s present temporary exhibition: Witness: Disaster, Rescue and Recovery, and will give participants the unique opportunity to learn about a major mining disaster of recent times.
The evening will include a short video ...
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Support the future of your community with Coxley Live at the National Coal Mining Museum
03/10/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce its continued support of a major church and community project, ‘Coxley Live’. The project aims to explore, record and protect the heritage of the Sitlington area (Netherton, Middlestown, Overton and Midgley). The project, which has been in the planning stages since last year, began with a weekend of exhibitions, displays, workshops...
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Dead Good Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum
27/09/2006
Prepare to be spooked when the National Coal Mining Museum for England hosts its first Murder Mystery evening on Saturday 14 October 2006. Skulduggery, one of the UK’s most successful Murder Mystery entertainment providers, has pulled out all the stops to create an action-packed evening of murderous entertainment.
Set in post-war Britain, guests are invited to one of Greta Grabbo’s famous part...
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Support your community with Coxley Live at the National Coal Mining Museum
06/09/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce its support of a major church and community project, ‘Coxley Live’. The project aims to explore, record and protect the heritage of the Sitlington area (Netherton, Middlestown, Overton and Midgley). The project, which has been in the planning stages since last year, will focus on two weekend events of exhibitions, displays, worksho...
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Open House at Caphouse
29/08/2006
A special treat awaits visitors to the National Coal Mining Museum for England this September. The Museum is offering another chance for people to go behind the scenes as part of Heritage Open Days, running from Friday 8 until Sunday 10 September.
The fascinating Screens Building usually remains closed to the public and is one the few remaining structures of its type. This traditional building...
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Summer Fun
24/07/2006
From Monday 24 July until Friday 1 September, the National Coal Mining Museum is the perfect place to keep the children busy and there will be plenty to do whatever the weather.
Maurice the Miner is the Museum’s mascot and he will be giving visitors his friendly welcome. The whole family can get involved in the free art and craft activities, some of which have been specially created to complem...
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Miners' Gala
23/07/2006
Following the huge success of last year’s first ever Miners’ Gala, the National Coal Mining Museum for England is preparing for another celebration this summer. The Miners’ Gala is happening on Sunday 23 July and will be even bigger than 2005.
Returning to the true spirit of a mining community celebration, families will be spoilt for choice with activities, entertainment and rides. Maurice the...
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The National Coal Mining Museum Celebrates
05/07/2006
Following the huge success of last year’s first ever Miners’ Gala, the National Coal Mining Museum for England is preparing for another celebration this summer. The Miners’ Gala is happening on Sunday 23 July and will be even bigger than 2005.
Returning to the true spirit of a mining community celebration, families will be spoilt for choice with activities, entertainment and rides. Maurice the...
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Witness: Disaster, Rescue and Recovery - Museum highlights the progress of safety in mining
03/07/2006
Coal mining has always been a dangerous activity. Its history has been filled with death and disaster but also with acts of great courage, and hope in adversity. This exhibition, open to the public from 17 July, until 31 December 2006 at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, uses first-hand accounts and witness testimonies from several disasters as well as rescue and recovery. The exhibitio...
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Give it some stick at the National Coal Mining Museum
29/06/2006
Summer is upon us, and the National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce that amongst their seasonal activities, Wakefield Morris Dancers will be performing. The Horbury-based group will be clogged up and raring to go when they visit the Museum on Saturday 15 July and Sunday 23 July.
The traditional dance group formed in 1979, when they were known as ‘The Horberie Shrogys’ (th...
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Can your Mouse Help the Mining Museum?
14/06/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England has just joined Everyclick, an internet search engine that raises funds for charity. Everyclick (www.everyclick.com) was launched in 2005 and allocates 50% of its gross revenue to charity each month.
It couldn’t be easier to help raise funds for the Museum, and it won’t cost supporters a penny! People who are interested in supporting the Museum’s fun...
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Where There’s Coal There’s Brass
05/06/2006
Enjoy a summer evening of great music and delicious food in picturesque surrounds in rural West Yorkshire. Elland Silver Brass Band is playing an evening concert at National Coal Mining Museum for England, in Overton, on Saturday 24 June.
Elland Silver Brass Band has an extensive repertoire including arrangements of popular orchestral classics, from film music to jazz and popular selections, a...
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Inspiration from Local Artists at the Coal Mine
01/06/2006
In collaboration with their latest exhibition, Camaraderie of Dust, the National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to host two exciting new events.
Camaraderie of Dust brings together writer Michael Wilkinson and artist David Wilders, who use their experiences at Fryston Colliery to show the atmosphere and life of the mine through poetry and prints.
Museum visitors are being offe...
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Corporate Friends Event Cancelled
24/05/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield, have announced that their final breakfast networking event, scheduled to be held at the Museum on Friday 26 May, has unfortunately been cancelled. Local MP Mr Ed Balls was due to host the event, however due to his promotion to a ministerial position in the recent cabinet reshuffle; his new ministerial duties have forced him to cancel his exis...
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Out of Darkness Light
22/05/2006
As part of the Doncaster New Visual Arts Fringe Festival 2006, Rachel Horne, born during the 1984 miners’ strike, has embarked on an ambitious project, aimed at keeping the memory of coal mining alive. Rachel grew up in the ex-mining community of Cadeby Main Colliery, Doncaster, and has spent the last 10 months organising the ‘Out of Darkness Light’ Project, supported by the National Coal Mining M...
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Get Creative with Science at the National Coal Mining Museum
17/05/2006
On 26 May 2006 the National Coal Mining Museum for England will launch a brand new interactive CD ROM resource for primary teachers, which aims to make learning science more creative. ‘The Science of Mining’ CD ROM features resources for seven science topics (electricity, materials, forces, habitats, energy, rocks and light) as well as a design and technology section. Each section has specially de...
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Get Creative with Science at the National Coal Mining Museum
17/05/2006
On Friday 12 May, students and staff from Huddersfield Technical College took part in a sponsored sleepover at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, in Overton, near Wakefield. Students studying for a BTEC National Diploma in Horse Management spent the night at the mine, along with their tutors, Museum staff Liz Orme and Sharon Hinchliffe, and Annabella Raven, a practitioner of Natural Sham...
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Final Corporate Friends Event at the NCM
15/05/2006
After much consideration it has been decided by the trustees of the National Coal Mining Museum for England to bring to a close their Corporate Friends Membership Scheme. The scheme was launched in June 2002 as a networking initiative, the aim of which was to bring together businesses from across Yorkshire over breakfast at the Museum in Overton, near Wakefield, in order to promote the Museum’s co...
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Corporates Catered for at Caphouse
08/05/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England has announced its Conference facilities are now even better, with the addition of yet more features for the corporate market. Richard Saward, Commercial Director at the Museum said “since our conference rooms opened in 2002, business has grown beyond all expectations and we are delighted to be able to keep adding value for clients with further improvemen...
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On the History Trail at National Coal Mining Museum - Museums and Galleries Month
26/04/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is celebrating Museums and Galleries Month with a variety of family events and activities. There will be a fun and interactive gallery trail exploring the past, present and future of mining. Suitable for all the family, the trail will lead visitors on a journey of discovery around the Museum site.
History will be brought to life through the Museum’s ...
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Working Steam Rally Cancelled
20/04/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England in Overton, Wakefield has announced that their Working Steam Rally day, proposed to take place on Sunday 30th April, has unfortunately been cancelled. Organisers have been forced to pull out of the event due to winter and cold weather continuing well into the year. This affects the reconditioning of the steam engines, which must avoid frost getting into ...
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A Mine of Messages - Clairvoyancy Evening
11/04/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is delighted to welcome three experienced clairvoyants for a very special evening in Wakefield. On 26 April 2006, the Museum will host its first Clairvoyancy evening and will bring together Ian Wallace, Mary Runton and Pam Sutton.
Ian Wallace is based in Wakefield and specialises in holistic therapies for the mind, body and soul. He has worked as a p...
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Easter Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum
04/04/2006
Come and discover the best place to celebrate Easter this year, without breaking the bank. There is so much going on at the National Coal Mining Museum for England over the Easter break.
The highlight of the Easter Weekend (14-17 April) is a chance to meet the Easter Bunny and help him find his eggs with our Easter Egg Trail. Children will need to solve riddles and then explore the Museum, but...
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Imagery and poetry recreate mining life
03/04/2006
From 10 April 2006 visitors to the National Coal Mining Museum for England, near Wakefield, can visit a revealing exhibition which is currently on tour. Camaraderie of Dust brings together poet Michael Wilkinson and artist David Wilders who used their experiences at Fryston Colliery to show the atmosphere and life of the mine through poetry and prints. The exhibition will be formally opened on Thu...
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Industrial Action at the National Coal Mining Museum
24/03/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England in Overton, Wakefield has been issued notice of industrial action from the trade union, Unison, to take place on Tuesday 28th March 2006. The notice was issued following a ballot of Unison members over government plans to reduce pension benefits for members of the Local Government Pension Scheme. The union intends to call all of its members to take part ...
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Chaos at the Coal Face
08/03/2006
Budding actors from across Wakefield are busy working on a series of original new performances exploring their mining heritage. This innovative project is being run by a team of students from Leeds University and the final result will be performed at the National Coal Mining Museum for England on 10 March 2006.
The university students are working towards their BA Arts in Education and have set...
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National Coal Mining Museum sets families a challenge
06/03/2006
On Saturday 11 March, families are invited along to the Museum to take part in a Family Challenge Day. The challenge is to find a suitable light source for a coal mine in order to solve an age-old problem. They will need to consider the limitations which miners faced in the underground conditions and identify a way of lighting the darkness safely.
In the early nineteenth century, men, women an...
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Fabulous Free Family Fun for February
09/02/2006
Get excited this February half term with free family activities at National Coal Mining Museum for England in Wakefield. From Monday 13 to Friday 17 February you’ll be able to join in with ‘Mining Village’ themed arts and crafts sessions in the Museum’s Learning Curve.
To complement the exhibition ‘A Mining Village Remembered’ the Museum is running free family workshops. Explore Betty Miller’s...
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New Mine Manager at National Coal Mining Museum for England
23/01/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is pleased to announce that Jim Daykin has been appointed as Deputy Director and Mine Manager. The position requires two hats to be worn. Firstly, there is that of Mine Manager, where responsibilities include managing 34 miners, checking gas levels (especially when the barometer drops), monitoring the mine water pumping operation (Caphouse can pump up to...
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Events, exhibitions and excitement
16/01/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum for England has announced its programme of events for 2006 and has again demonstrated it’s a must-visit attraction for visitors of all ages.
The year is packed with events, free family workshops and exhibitions, along with a few more unusual surprises. The Museum itself continues to expand and develop, so it’s no surprise 97% of recent visitors rated their trip ...
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Last Stint at the Pit
09/01/2006
Erwin Bottomley, Mine Manager and Deputy Director, retires from the National Coal Mining Museum for England this year after twenty years of dedicated service.
The longest serving member of staff at the Museum first went down t’pit at sixteen after leaving technical college. Erwin is originally from Sheffield and has a strong mining background with his father, grandfather and uncles working at ...
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National Coal Mining Museum for England Goes Victorian
06/01/2006
Wakefield Victorian Festival is back in town from Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 November and the National Coal Mining Museum for England is embracing the celebrations in true style by holding a stall in the city centre among the other Victorian market dwellers.
As part of Wakefield Council’s Victorian Market, the Museum’s stall will provide plenty of ideas for unusual Christmas presents, or a chance ...
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Take a Trip Down Memory Lane with National Coal Mining Museum
04/01/2006
From 16 January visitors to the National Coal Mining Museum for England, near Wakefield, can take a stroll down memory lane with a temporary exhibition from Yorkshire born Betty Miller; A Mining Village Remembered. Intricately crafted bronze sculpture depicts snapshots from Miller’s childhood in the mining village of Royston, South Yorkshire.
The exhibition, running from 16 January until 26 Ma...
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A Mystery Mining Medal- can you help?
04/01/2006
The National Coal Mining Museum is continually delving into the past to uncover fascinating stories about mining and life in a mining community. The Curatorial team receive many enquiries from the general public who are also interested in the subject and aim to unearth as much information as they can. Occasionally they are also approached with a mining-related item or artefact, which may be simple...
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